PETA’s Guide to Becoming an Activist

Maybe you’ve recently learned how animals are treated in laboratories or realized that because you wouldn’t eat your dog, it doesn’t make sense for you to eat a cow or chicken. Or maybe you’ve been working in an animal shelter for years and have decided that it’s time to take another step to help change society’s attitude toward animals.

If you’re shy, uncomfortable with public speaking, or new at activism, you may feel like you are all alone. But it only takes one individual to reach hundreds of people and influence their often-unwittingly exploitative attitudes and lifestyles. Perhaps there are no animal rights groups in your area, but there is at least one animal rights activist … you.

Anyone can be an activist. It doesn’t take special skills or superhuman abilities. You just need to care enough about animals to want to help them.

What Is PETA?

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an animal rights organization founded on the premise that animals are not ours to use for food, clothing, experimentation, or entertainment. Since 1980, PETA has grown from a handful of volunteers to an international organization with more than 3 million members and supporters.

Grassroots work is essential to the success of the animal rights movement, and PETA is committed to helping activists around the world organize to protect animal rights.

What Can This Online Guide Do for You?

Every day, PETA is flooded with telephone calls, letters, and e-mails from people all over the world who want to help animals but don’t know where to start. PETA’s Guide to Effective Advocacy provides step-by-step instructions to help you channel your concern into activism.

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Save 100 Animals a Year …

Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights? Read more.